“How does it feel to finally be in level five?” Asks Seraphina.

“I’d feel better if Lucien had not beat me to it,” I say, taking a drink of my ale. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m exhausted,” she says, placing a hand over her pregnant belly.

“I hope Arthur is taking good care of you,” says Lucien, giving Arthur a stern look.

Lucien sits hidden beneath his cloak, and our table is tucked away in the darkest part of the pub where the light can’t reach him.

“He’s been wonderful,” she beams. “I hardly need to lift a finger if I can help it, unless he’s gone off to do some work.”

“Where’s Cyrus? Too busy to join us at the pub?” Mutters Arthur into his cup, his face drooping from exhaustion.

“He has matters to attend to. He said…”

Lucien begins explaining Cyrus’ absence, and my mind wanders off to the corner where a man is playing a sad song on a violin. Others around him have stopped what they’re doing to listen, caught in a trance. The song reminds me of my days in Mirror Lake and Bellehaven, like a childhood story I could only vaguely recall. Homesickness.

‘Once upon a time, there was a Mystic named Luna,’ the story begins. ‘She was going to a Magical Academy far from home in the City of Lights. She was excited to be leaving the small town of Bellehaven behind, and begin her life’s journey to become a well traveled Wind-Caller. On the way she met a prince named Arthur who fell in love with the beautiful Baroness from Phoenix Spire, Seraphina Ainsley. Luna got to know Arthur’s best friend, the half dark, half light elf, Lucien Moonshadow, who she fell madly in love with, but couldn’t pursue because he got an idiot, possessive boyfriend.’ The story ends in tragedy as Luna is forced to keep her distance from Lucien in order to keep the peace between them, and keep his heart from breaking.

When the violinist is done playing, exhaustion washes over me, as it dawns on me that 10 years have gone by since I left Bellehaven to study at the Academy, an eternity, and I still have 11 more to go until I get an immortality potion. By the time I finish, I’ll have lived here in the City of Lights longer than anywhere else.

“Luna, love,” says Seraphina, gently.

I look up at her and smile. “Sorry. What did I miss?”

“You can rest if you need to. I know you had several examinations today, and I’m familiar with the stress that comes along with hearing those results. Gods, I remember how nervous it would make me, praying I passed, not wanting to endure it for another year. I’d go without sleep for days.”

I’ve become aware of the heaviness and dryness of my eyes. I haven’t stared at anything except spell diagrams and coursework for the past five weeks.

“She practically disappeared,” comments Lucien. “Left me all alone in the shop, too.”

“Well,” sighs Seraphina. “I’m sure it was nothing compared to her six months caring for you alone.”

“You’re right. It was the least I could do,” he smiles at me.

I look away, not wanting to cause any trouble between him and Cyrus anymore. Even when Cyrus isn’t around, I’m afraid to look at Lucien’s face, because his face softens, and his eyes glisten, and it reminds me too much of how he used to look at Cyrus in the beginning.

“I’m ready to head home,” Seraphina sighs. “I have an early day tomorrow. Arthur and I will be preparing for the grand opening of our shop.”

“That’s right,” exclaims Lucien. “I’ll try to stop by. Or I’ll send Luna in my stead.”

I give Seraphina a weary smile. “I’ll make sure to stop by when I’m picking up my new books. Maybe I’ll sleep for several days, first.”

“No,” says Lucien, sternly. “You don’t need to purchase new books. I have an old copy of Wind-Caller level five spells to give you. Master Eaimer sent it to me for you to keep.”

“Gods, he’s a saint,” Seraphina says, cheerfully. “Those texts get expensive.”

“I’ll have to remember to write to him, then,” I say. “It’s been a while, anyway.”

“Well, let’s get going, Arthur, dear,” Seraphina sighs, wobbling to her feet.

“One moment, my love,” says Arthur. “Lucien, can I have a word with you privately?”

We say our goodbyes outside the pub, and part ways. Arthur and Seraphina going in one direction, to their home in the nicer parts of the city, and Lucien and I in the other.

“I know you like to get ahead on your studies,” says Lucien, once we’ve made our way to the potions shop. “So I thought you might like the book now, even though I consider it a disgusting habit.”

“I don’t think my head can take much more for once. Maybe I’m finally becoming normal.”

“Well, I can get it for you, anyway, since you’re already here.”

We walk quietly through the dark shop, and up the ladder into the attic. I shut the attic door, and replace the rug that prevents light from leaking through the frame. Lucien rifles through his belongings in the meantime.

“Found it,” he whispers.

“Wonderful,” I laugh, beginning to lower the ladder just as I’d gotten it up.

“You don’t have to rush off, do you?” He asks, softly.

“Why? Are you going to make me help you prepare some ingredients? Normally, I would, Lucien, but I’m a bit tired-”

“Well,” he says, in a high pitched tone. “You have been slacking off lately.”

“Rude,” I scoff. “I’ve been busy, but I could make it up to you some other time. Besides, I fell behind trying to take care of you, and everything else, and somehow still managed.”

“I only jest,” he says, pulling the ladder back up, and taking my hand. “I just want to spend time with you. You’ve been gone forever.”

“That’s an exaggeration.”

“It was five whole weeks, Lune! We’ve never been apart for that long.”

“Well, I mean… you did take Cyrus to Zelfari that one-”

“Except that one time. Just stay here a bit longer. At least let me see your face a few more times?”

“Oh?” I frown, and pout my lip. “This face? The one that looks like I’ve been in a battle with fifty goblins, and got part of my soul sucked out by a Striga? That face?”

“Yes, that face,” he says, pinching my cheek. “I told you to summon a simpler creature, but you just had to show off for your exam.”

“Professor Hawthorne was unimpressed with all the extensions I asked for. I had to show him I knew what I was doing. I even made sure to pass out when I was well out of sight.”

I follow him past crates I know are filled with potion bottles, and special ingredients imported from other parts of Amith and beyond. Lucien pulls a stack of them away from a wall, exposing a hidden door. I follow him into the room, and pull the crates back into place.

“So,” I say, walking around his bedroom. “You’ve gotten comfortable…”

Slowly, I wander the room, taking in the various papers he’s pinned to the walls, and the books he’s lined on the shelves. Lucien doesn’t own much but what he does own looks expensive, well used, and cared for. Everything is perfectly neat and tidy, but somehow cozy. I avoid getting too close to his bed, afraid Cyrus will appear at the worst time through the window.

“I have,” he says, contentedly.

“Studying hard?”

I stand at his desk, and read the spines of the books he has stacked there. All of them are from our level four courses, some in his own language. Small pieces of paper litter his work desk, covered in writing I don’t recognize.

“Extremely hard,” he says, sarcastically. “Why are you so nosy?”

“I can’t read any of it,” I say, defensively. “Besides, you invited me over. I just wanted to go home.

“Come here,” he says, placing a bound book on the edge of his bed.

I pick it up, and take a seat next to him, looking around at all the windows. I flip through the pages, but can’t take in any of the words. Lazily, I go over some of the newer hand motions, but eventually shut the book when my head begins to throb. I can almost feel the buzzing sound of my exhaustion in the silence. We sit quietly.

“Not going to read anymore?” He inquires.

“I can’t. I’m afraid there’s no room in my head for now. I need several days to discard all that useless information about the history of crystal ball reading, and its inaccuracies or… or…”

He takes the book from my hands, and sets it on a nearby shelf just past me, his arm brushing against my shoulder. “The evolution of the time keepers of Zelfari?”

“No. I actually enjoyed that,” I say, leaning back on my hands against the bed, feeling the heaviness of sleep beginning to take over. “I really should get back to my room at the Academy. I’m going to fall asleep otherwise.”

“Stay the night,” he whispers, almost inaudibly.

“Lucien,” I laugh. “I’m not sleeping on the sofa.”

He settles down next to me, grips my hip firmly, and pulls me close. A rush of heat courses through my body.

“There’s enough room for us,” he whispers in my ear, sending pleasant shivers through my body, and pushing me against the bed, until we both fall back.

Gaia, Selene and Sol! I want him.

“Lucien, what are you doing?” I whisper. “What if Cyrus sees us?”

“What do you think I’m doing?”

I turn to look at him, and he remains mere inches away from my face, his fingers trailing along my waist, and over my abdomen. I gasp quietly, and blush fiercely when I realize he’s waiting for my reaction.

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“Have you lost your mind?” I say with a smile, turning on my side, to face him.

“Cyrus and I are not together anymore. I broke things off.”

“What a pity. Are you planning on using me to get over it? What happened this time?”

“No… I’m not sure,” he grins. “Let’s see… What happened? I think her name is Luna. I couldn’t stop thinking about how she abandoned me for five weeks. It was a nightmare. I missed her so much.”

I sit up, and stare down at him wide-eyed. He gives me a panicked look.

“Are you teasing me? You’re not serious. This happens all the time between the two of you. I'll give it a week,” I think aloud.

“Lune, when have I ever not told you the truth?” He asks, irritably. “And I did. Permanently, this time. We weren’t exactly getting along. It’s the first time, I don’t… want him. I feel lifted.”

“It’s about time! What was it? His broken promises? His possessiveness? His unknowing?”

“Unknowing?”

“Yes… unknowing. He never bothered to get to know you. He doesn’t know any of your favorite things. He didn’t even notice that awkward time you were wearing your hair differently.”

“Awkward? You said you liked it.”

“I did, but it was such a dramatic change-”

“You’re such a liar!”

“Did he dislike me?”

“No, it wasn’t like that at all. He actually really liked you.”

“Oh!” I say, a bit shocked. “I didn’t think he did.”

“He said you were remarkably stubborn, and always right.”

“Oh… what’d he say about Arthur?” I giggle.

“Incredibly handsome, and surprisingly intelligent.”

“‘Surprisingly’?”

“I might have embellished that a bit,” he uses me to pull himself up to a sitting position, and smiles.

“Lucien, you can talk to me. I know you… loved him.”

“Maybe some other time. He did say I was dull compared to the rest of you,” he hangs his head, and looks down at his feet.

“He’s not wrong,” I tease him.

“Luna, really?” He scoffs. “I’m hurting, and you’re going to agree with my ex?”

“Is that why we haven’t seen him that often for… several months now?”

“You noticed?”

“Of course I noticed! You’re a terrible liar, saying he’s been busy. You always do that weird twitchy thing when you lie.”

“The others haven’t noticed.”

“They’re not around you all the time.”

“If you knew, why didn’t you say anything?”

I roll my eyes. “What was I going to say? ‘I noticed a lack of cringey flirting between the two of you’? Or perhaps… ‘I noticed you’re sleeping alone all the time.’ Or what about ‘I noticed the two of you are awfully quiet’? Or ‘It’s about time you’ve opened your eyes’?”

“You’re… surprisingly attentive.”

“Sorry.” I stare at an empty corner of the room, the pounding of my heart almost deafening. “I’m sure you made the right decision.”

I hear the jewels on his ears tingle when his ear twitches. He sighs, and it’s almost too loud in the heavy silence of the room.

“There was just… something missing. I don’t know what it was.”

“Brains?” I blurt.

He laughs, and drops back into the bed with a soft thud. “Possibly.”

“You know what it was. Your ear twitching gives you away.”

“My ear twitching?” He laughs. “My ears are always twitching, as you call it. I prefer flutter. It sounds more sophisticated.”

“Well, they flutter a certain way. Your earrings have little songs they play for your various emotions,” I say, lying back, and turning to face him. “A little light tune when you hear something that excites you. A big plunk when you’re afraid. A loud clinking when something surprises you. They practically speak for you.”

“What does my lying sound like, then?” He says, turning to face me, amused to hear of my discovery.

“It’s like a quick double flutter. You actually make that sound when you’re happy about something, too. It’s adorable.”

“Adorable?” He tightens his lips, and furrows his brows.

“Yes. You’re like a pet bunny I used to have. I could understand her just by looking at her ears. They were so expressive.”

“A bunny?” He sits up, and looks down at me with a pout. “I’m not a cute, fuzzy animal.”

“You’re cute just like she was, and your hair counts as fuzzy.”

I reach up, and pinch his cheeks. He pretends to nip at me, and I pull my hands away, cackling.

“She liked to do that, too,” I laugh. “When she was excited to be getting a snack.”

“What kind of snack?”

My cheeks burn when I see a familiar look on his face that I’d only ever seen him give Cyrus. His eyes are narrowed, the corner of his mouth is turned up, and there’s a glint in his eye.

“Well,” I swallow hard. “I used to give her strawberry tops, like I give you cookies.”

“Tell me more about your pet,” he says.

He leans back, and rests his head on his folded arms, while we stare up at the ceiling, at the shadows cast from the lanterns outside.

“I used to love listening to the little crunching sounds she made when she nibbled at her food.”

His cheeks flush a little darker. “I want cookies, now.”

I sigh, and tiptoe downstairs in the dark.

We’re lying down again, enjoying the cookies while they last. I know there’s only one left when Lucien nibbles it slowly to savor every last bite.

“When she was done eating, she’d rub her face against my palm, or cuddle with me,” I continue.

He looks over at me, with his cookie hanging out of his mouth. I lean in, and take it away with my teeth, finishing it in a single bite.

“Dammit, Luna,” he grumbles. “That was the last one.”

“I know,” I giggle.

“You have no idea what you’ve done,” he growls.

“Oh?” I poke his side, making him yelp in pain.

“Now you’ve done it.”

He sits up, and ties his braid up in a bun, an action usually meaning he’s preparing to tackle a difficult task.

We chase each other around the small room, casting weak spells at each other; A little gust of wind to cover his face with his hair, and loosen his hair bun, a small mist to blind me, a shadow to draw my attention. He eventually tackles me into his bed, pinning my arms above my head, and locking his fingers around mine, so I can’t cast any spells. I gasp for air as we laugh until we cry; out of breath, our eyes filled with tears, our hearts pounding. It begins to die down, and immediately picks up again when I snort.

“Luna!” He laughs, and then imitates my snort.

“S-Stop!” I scream, quickly running out of air. “You’re a rabbit, remember?”

“You’re a cute little piglet, then. I’ll feed you an endless supply of honey cake.”

“That sounds like a good life, actually.”

Lucien snickers, struggling to stop himself from breaking out into more fits of giggles.

“What were we talking about?” He asks.

“What was missing in your relationship with Cyrus?”

He moves away, and sits at the edge of the bed, more solemn now.

“I don’t think I loved him,” he murmurs. “Not that way. Not in the way that matters.”

“Oh…” I murmur, sitting next to him, and taking his hand in mine. “I’m actually very sad to hear that.”

“Are you?”

“You deserve love.”

He laughs weakly, and wipes away a tear with the back of his sleeves. “Thank you.”

I move in close to him, and hold his face in my hands.

He backs away, uncomfortably. “Can I help you with something, Miss?”

“I’ve just always wondered what color your eyes would turn if you cried. Mine get all red, but you’re blue, and get darker when your blood rushes to your cheeks.”

“My eyes get puffy and dark blue,” he snickers, as he leans closer. “See?”

“Amazing, and oddly terrifying,” I say, mere inches from his face.

His cheeks darken the longer I stared at him.

He pushes me away, and searches his room until he finds a handkerchief he uses to wipe his eyes and nose.

“I think you loved him,” I chime. “Or you wouldn’t be this sad.”

“Then, why didn’t I want to be with him?”

“Maybe he wasn’t what you were searching for. Just because you didn’t want to be with him doesn’t mean you didn’t love him.”

“Like Marcellus?”

“Like Fox and Marcellus,” I state, matter-of-factly.

“How is he doing, anyway? Marcellus, I mean. We both know what Fox is up to.”

“Well, you know he was getting married to Abigail. They finally had the wedding.”

“Gods, that happened already? That was fast.” he says, dropping his handkerchief into a small basket of dirty laundry. “Did you go?”

“I couldn’t, and it was only fast by your standards. Do you honestly think I had time to attend with my schedule the way it is? I had so much work to catch up on.”

“So you keep saying. I hope you sent a good gift, at least.”

“My mother sent gifts on my behalf. I just sent her some coins.”

A knock at Lucien’s door leaves us frozen in place.

“Lucien, it’s Arthur,” a voice whispers. “I didn’t know where to go, but I need help. It’s Seraphina. Her mother is with her, but…”

I rush to the door, and Lucien hisses out a curse when I open it.

“Luna?” Asks Arthur, startled. “Why are you-”

We both fall silent, turning away from each other in embarrassment, when he catches a glimpse at the disheveled sheets on Lucien’s bed.

“I came to pick up a book,” I say, reaching for the text Lucien placed on the shelf.

“It’s not what it looks like, Arthur,” Lucien states. “Is Seraphina okay?”

“R-Right, of course. She’s in labor. I thought you’d like to know. Uh-you’ve saved me a trip to the Aca- demy,” he says, turning away awkwardly, and rushing out. “I’ll wait for you downstairs.”

Lucien falls face first into his bed with his limbs splayed, and lies motionless.

“He’s never going to shut up now, Luna,” he groans into a pillow. “You should have let me answer it.”

“And when he didn’t find me at the Academy? It’s fine,” I burst into a fit of laughter. “He never shuts up, anyway. Let’s go.”

“Do I have to? He’s not going to be able to restrain himself, and Seraphina won’t be there to protect me… I mean, she will be, but she’ll be occupied.”

“We can get Fox to bring Elizabeth. Smooth things over.”

“You’re right, maybe she’ll help, but Fox is also trouble.”

“He’s not that bad.”

We all pace nervously around the room, as Seraphina cries out in pain in the upstairs bedroom. Fox and Elizabeth squeeze each other's hands, as Elizabeth nervously rubs her small pregnant belly.

“Well,” mutters Fox, looking back and forth between Lucien and I. “At least the two of you have received a fair warning.”

Elizabeth gasps, and clamps a hand over her mouth. She gives Fox a playful slap, and turns away to hide her laughter. Lucien stiffens, and turns away.

“A fair warning?” I ask.

Elizabeth walks away quickly.

“Yes,” says Fox. “A warning for you and Lucien to not have children.”

“I never really wanted children. You, of all people, know that best.”

“Does Lucien?”

“Do you want children, Lucien?” I ask him, playing dumb.

“Y-Yes,” Lucien mutters. “I-I do.”

My stomach sinks, but I don’t let it show. Still, something has changed, and Lucien looks concerned.

“That’s unfortunate,” Fox murmurs.

“Fox, come here,” Elizabeth calls out, sensing he’s up to trouble.

Lucien and I break out into a fit of nervous laughter, and stop when we hear a baby’s cry. Lucien grasps my hand tightly, and we walk up the stairs together.

I stumble through the front door of the shop with Lucien at my side, and we prepare for a long day of all work with no sleep.

By lunchtime, we’re like bumbling fools, getting through work by drinking a steady stream of energy potions. The unfortunate side effects are shivers, and the feeling one gets when astral projecting the moment the soul disconnects from the body. We collapse in his bed upstairs during lunch, and let sleep wash over us, knowing Madam Lyra will be coming into the shop to take over for us soon.

I wake up sweating and hot, and sit up in bed, my body heavy. I wearily make my way towards the window and open it. The warm breeze does nothing to help cool me off.

“What time is it?” Lucien grumbles, as he stretches.

I settle back into the bed beside him, staring at his skin where his robe parts just above his belt.

“I don’t think we slept for too long,” I yawn. “Maybe two hours?”

He yawns, and curls up again. “Wake me in two more hours, then.”

“Come on, let’s finish up. I don’t want to work too late today. I have an assignment I have to work on.”

“I’m too tired,” he grumbles.

“Luuuuce,” I sing, lightly poking his sides “Lucien, come on.”

“Lune,” he whines weakly, and his ears flutter. “I would never do this to you.”

“You would,” I say, poking his side.

He catches my hand, and pulls me down next to him, wrapping his arm around my body.

“Lucien,” I whine. “You’re soaked in sweat. It’s disgusting.”

He wraps his leg around me, keeping me pinned down with his weight

“I’ll let you sleep, I swear,” I say, struggling to push him off my body.

The heat is making me tired, irritable, and weak. He barely budges, and I groan in frustration.

“Lucien, get off,” I whine, slapping his leg.

He rolls over me, and falls limp.

“You’re so ridiculous,” I laugh, poking his sides.

He cries out in pain, then regretfully rolls off me.

“Alright,” he says, rubbing his sides. “You didn’t have to get violent. Gods, you’re going to leave a permanent scar there.”

“Blegh! We should have left the window open. I smell like you. Peppermint and,” I sniff my tunic and gag. “Valerian root.”

“You were the one that smelled of Valerian root,” he reminds me. “At least I made you smell a bit better.”

“Oh, that’s right. You left me with the worst tasks today.”

“You’ve been slacking.

We exchange glances, and my heart skips a beat.

“Dammit,” I mutter, when I see him smile.

“What is it?” He grins.

“You know what it is. I happen to know you have excellent hearing.”

“And what do you think I hear?”

“Ugh,” I groan, burying my face into his chest, and inhaling his smell deeply. “Only the pounding of my heart when we look at each other. Why are we like this? Why are we playing this stupid game?”

“I’m scared that if I don’t actually know how you feel, I’ll embarrass myself if I act,” he mutters, running a hand through my hair. “A pounding heart can mean you’re afraid, too.”

My lips reflexively form a half smile. I keep it buried in his chest to imprint this moment to memory; the feeling of his silky robes, the smell of him, the way he softly runs his fingers through my hair.

“I love you, Luna,” he says quietly, over enunciating each syllable, something he does when he’s afraid of a misunderstanding.

I move to look up at him. “And so do I.”

“As a friend?”

I huff. “I mean, yes, but…”

He sits up, and pulls me under his body. “But?”

“I don’t know. I’m afraid that this could be a disaster.”

“Do you promise we could still be friends no matter what?”

“I don’t want to be friends anymore, Lucien. It’s getting difficult.”

I reach up to cup his cheeks, and pull him down by his braids, so I can press our lips together. He eagerly accepts my kiss, pressing his lips against mine with equal ferocity. The spark between us ignites my insides. I gasp from the joy of having finally known his taste, and I’m overwhelmed from the feeling of it. A tear runs down my cheek.

“Luna?” He tuts, giving me a pitying look. “Was my kiss that bad? You look upset.”

“It was the worst kiss ever,” I say, as seriously as I can, though deep down I’m screaming. “We need a great deal of practice.”

“Sweet Selene, Mother of Gaia,” he sighs, resting his head at my side. “I feel… lifted to the heavens.”

“Over a kiss?” I whisper, with a laugh.

“Yes.”

“I’ll see you downstairs,” I whisper, making my way to the door.

“I’ll see you in a few minutes,” he mumbles, his voice muffled as he lies face down in his bed.